Performance Ag will operate as part of Pinnacle's Providence Agriculture brand. With Headquarters in Aberdeen, S.D., Performance Ag was formed in April 2003 by Jon Swenson, providing crop protection chemicals for area growers. The business subsequently expanded into neighboring states, and today, Performance Ag operates four additional locations in Mobridge and Winner, South Dakota, Wishek, North Dakota, and Conrad, Montana.

Former owner, Jon Swenson, said, “This union allows Performance Ag to enhance the products and services that we bring to our growers. It also allows us to expand our operations to service new customers in the future. We are aligning with a team that is committed to innovation and capable of delivering enhanced solutions for our farmers. Also, Providence’s foundation of trust, loyalty, and integrity is very similar to Performance Ag’s company culture, so the transition should be seamless for our customers.”

Jon Swenson will continue to manage all locations, as well as help develop new business and acquisitions. Kurt Schentzel will continue to manage all sales staff. Servicing retail and wholesale accounts, the operations will remain located at 38420 U.S. Highway 12, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401; 1324 East Grand Crossing, Mobridge, South Dakota 57601; 31710 Harvest Road, Winner, South Dakota 57580; 4129 Highway 13 SE, Wishek, North Dakota 58495; and 711 South Virginia Street, Conrad, Montana 59425. The current employees of all five Performance Ag locations will retain their positions under the new ownership.

Uvalde Co-op will operate as part of Pinnacle's Sanders brand. Located in Knippa, Texas, Uvalde Co-op is a farm input and supply company that has been serving area growers for more than 39 years.

Formed as a non-profit association, Uvalde Co-op has been servicing the Winter Garden area since November, 1975. Originally formed with 38 members, Uvalde Co-op has grown to 114 active members and is a certified public grain warehouse engaged in buying and selling wheat, grain sorghum, corn, and sesame. Uvalde Co-op is also the largest domestic provider of sesame for Sesaco Corporation. The acquisition of Uvalde Co-op’s seed, fertilizer and crop protection assets will enhance Sanders’ retail presence in the southern Texas market.

The new Sanders location will remain at 209 West Main Street, Knippa, TX 78870, and will be managed by Bonnie Turner. Turner’s background includes seven years with Crop Production Services, Inc. and ten years with Helena Chemical Company. All other employees of Uvalde Co-op will retain their current positions under the new ownership.

“We are extremely excited about the innovative opportunities and high level of service that Sanders will bring to our area growers,” said Bonnie Turner, Location Manager. “The Winter Garden region is very diverse, and our planting season is year-round with everything from vegetables and small grains to pastureland, corn, and cotton. We are very excited to be a part of Sanders and will uphold their high standard of quality in servicing our customers.”

Uvalde Co-op Board President, Carl Muecke, Jr. said, “The board members of Uvalde Co-op would like to thank all of our customers and friends for the years of continued support. We have been blessed to serve our community, and we look forward to the wide range of products, services and innovation that Sanders will bring to our local growers.”

“We are delighted about purchasing the agronomy assets of Uvalde County Co-op,” said John Williams, Sanders' area operations manager. “We look forward to working with area growers who produce some of the highest cotton yields in the state, not to mention vegetable and grain production and livestock operations. We are confident that the farmers Uvalde Co-op has served so well will experience a seamless transition and will continue to receive the excellent service they have come to know in meeting all of their crop input needs.”